COUNCILLORS have voted through plans to increse the council tax precept in Hyndburn by 4.95 per cent.

The figure for the next financial year was set at a meeting last night and is expected to see the overall bills for Hyndburn residents rise by 3.4 per cent.

Coun Peter Britcliffe, leader of the Hyndburn Council, said the rise was needed to invest in community safety, safeguard the environment, support the local economy and improve health, leisure and education in the borough.

During the council meeting in Accrington Town Hall Coun Britcliffe promised to build on the strengths of last year.

He said: “We in the Conservative group have always adopted a simple philosophy.

“What we say to local people is this ‘if it’s important to you, then it’s important to us’.”

Coun Britcliffe announced the council is the only public body shortlisted for an award for its modern apprenticeship programme.

He also said there would be a joint push with the police to reduce anti-social behaviour and alcohol related crime and added the newly installed £350,000 would help tackle the issue.

Coun Britcliffe announced the council tax would also help fund a new recycling drive where 5,000 sealable will be handed out for recyclable items and they would employ a neighbourhood care-taker who will be in charge of litter and dog dirt.

An additional £400,000 will be pumped into the local economy to tackle unemployment and combat the recession.

Coun Britcliffe said: “This budget is focussed very firmly on doing the things that local people have told us are important.

The Government’s preferred inflation measure, the consumer prices index, is at two per cent.